Louie Bluie (1985): cast, story & where to watch
1985 · Film · ★ 7.4
Released in 1985, Louie Bluie is a music and documentary film directed by Terry Zwigoff, running about 60 minutes. “Filmed at the 1985 Friscofest” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Crumb director Terry Zwigoff’s first film is a true treat: a documentary about the obscure country-blues musician and idiosyncratic visual artist Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, member of the last known black string band in America. As beguiling a raconteur as he is a performer, Louie makes for a wildly entertaining movie subject, and Zwigoff honors him with an unsentimental but endlessly affectionate tribute. Full of infectious music and comedy, Louie Bluie is a humane evocation of the kind of pop-cultural marginalia that Zwigoff would continue to excavate in the coming years.
Who’s in it. Louie Bluie stars Howard Armstrong as Himself, Ted Bogan as Himself, Jay Lynch as Himself and Yank Rachell as Himself, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, Louie Bluie has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Louie Bluie page.
If you liked it. Fans of Louie Bluie tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Louie Bluie (1985)?
- In US, Louie Bluie is available to stream on Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Louie Bluie worth watching?
- Louie Bluie holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy music and documentary. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Louie Bluie?
- Louie Bluie stars Howard Armstrong, Ted Bogan, Jay Lynch, Yank Rachell and Ikey Robinson.
- When was Louie Bluie released?
- Louie Bluie was released in 1985, with a runtime of about 60 minutes.